March 10: A Bangalore-based IT professional who decided at the last moment to spend Holi with his family back in Calcutta had to shell out Rs 19,000 for a flight tonight.
That's Rs 10,000 more than what airlines usually charge for a last-minute ticket on the route.
Naktala resident Surjyasikha Das missed the 7.40pm Duranta Express for her journey back home from Delhi yesterday. Desperate to return home in time for Holi, the management teacher at JIS University started looking up for airfares but the cheapest on offer was Rs 16,000, more than double the average price on the route.
As thousands working outside Bengal are flying home on the eve of the Dol-Holi weekend, one-way airfares to Calcutta are soaring to the sky in response to the surge in demand.
The surge is in sync with a pattern that has become familiar over the past several years, resulting from Bengal's bleak industrial scene.
The lack of job opportunities is prompting educated youths of the state to flock out in search of a satisfying career. A large number of them fly back home on festive occasions.
"It has been observed over the past several years that the prices of inbound tickets go up at the start of a festive season. Outbound fares, on the other hand, surge once a festival gets over and people fly out to their workplaces," a travel industry insider said.
A one-way fare from Mumbai to Calcutta was varying between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 on a portal for booking air tickets tonight. The average one-way fare on the route, tour operators say, is Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000.
The Calcutta-Mumbai fare has gone up too - to Rs 15,000 - but it was still much less than the inbound fare.
To put things in perspective, a round trip to Bangkok usually costs around Rs 16,000.
"Inbound airfares surge before long weekends as hundreds of professionals working outside the state return. But this weekend the fares to Calcutta from cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai have escalated to a level usually seen during the Puja," said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, Travel Agents Federation of India.
The fares from Calcutta to these cities were below Rs 10,000 tonight.
Airline officials said seats were filling up fast this evening and most Calcutta-bound flights in the late hours had one or two vacant seats left. "The fares are going up every hour for Calcutta-bound flights," said Debjit Ghosh, regional sales, head (east), SpiceJet.
Airport officials said they recorded a spurt in the passenger footfall in the arrival lounge this evening and the trend continued for several hours.
Comment: A state without its white color population will not last long. Babus wake up !_________________Sabya99

The airport is being built by the AAI at an estimated cost of 605 crore[2] featuring a 1,700 m × 30 m (5,577 ft × 98 ft) runway and a 116 m (381 ft) long taxiway connecting it to an apron measuring 106 by 76 metres (348 ft × 249 ft) that can accommodate two ATR 72 aircraft at a time.
Also under construction are a terminal building measuring 2,380 m2 (25,600 sq ft) with a capacity of 100 passengers, a car park for 80 vehicles and a fire station cum Air Traffic Control Tower. The airport is expected to have navigation facilities such as NDB, DVOR, High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL), airport beacon, and a PAPI.[8]
The land for the airport was carved from the mountainside using massive geotechnical 'cut and fill' engineering works. These state-of-the-art geogrid soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques were employed as traditional retaining structures and embankments were ruled out as being unfeasible. Irish geotechnical company Maccaferri executed the project that envisaged a 550 m (1,800 ft) wide, 1.7 km (1.1 mi) long corridor on which the runway and airport buildings are to be constructed. Will be functional by 2017-18 and the latest addition of high altitude Himalayan airports list.
( From Wikipedia )_________________Sabya99

Thanks for the update, Sir. In case I get lucky, I may be able to have a dekko at this site sometime this year.
On a different note, I am just back from your favourite city. Calcutta.
Some notes:
- Lots of infra projects all around. I could hardly recognise the route from VIP road through the EM bypass to the Jadavpur connector
- Reorientation at CCU T2. More immigration counters. I came in on my favourite flight AI 020: an international connector. The entire immigration area has been expanded, and re-organised. Looks good!
- The South-East end construction is on in full swing. The F-27 looks to have been broken up as the land around it comes under construction. The Biju Patnaik DC-3 and the HS-748 look as they looked like, over the past 4-5 years.
- The terminal has many more F&B outlets.
- Overall, the terminal has been maintained well
Cheers, Sumantra.

Thanks for the update. Sikkim needs an airport no matter how small the runway is.
Yes Kolkata airport/VIP road area is getting very crowded. Metro rail link is essential. But the real change is taking place inside the airport. New apron construction in the East and other places will make the airport unrecognizable. But we have to wait years. I follow these developments from the sky! Let us hope for a better Kolkata!_________________Sabya99

Jet Airways launched the first direct flight between Mumbai and Bagdogra on Sunday. The flight was given a water salute when it made the first landing at Bagdogra.
So far, Calcutta and Delhi were other metros which were connected to Bagdogra through non-stop flights. There are other flights between Mumbai and Bagdogra but they have stopovers at other airports.
The Jet Airways flight leaves Mumbai at 10.05am and arrives at Bagdogra at 1pm. The return flight would depart at 1.35pm and reach Mumbai at 4.35pm.
"The bookings are encouraging. This is the longest flight in terms of duration from Bagdogra. It is a major development and will help bring in more passengers to the region. As of now, around 22 flights operate out of Bagdogra everyday. The number will increase in due course," said Rakesh Sahay, the Bagdogra airport director.

KOLKATA: School exams are almost over and most smitten by the travel bug are expected to begin planning their summer vacations now. But two recent events in the United States of Americaand United Kingdom have posed a new question. Will Kolkatans prefer to give the US and UK a miss and try out other travel destination during the summer months?

Concerns are there though it's a little too early to press the panic button, said travel agents. "Students have just finished their exams. People have begun planning their summer vacations. We have noticed some apprehensions among travellers as far as travelling to US and UK on vacation during the summers. They have been checking out other destinations," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India,

However, Punjabi also pointed out that public memory is short. Soon, they might forget about these hassles. UK has always been a good travel destination for Kolkatans, Punjabi said. This year, the added incentive is the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy that is scheduled to be held in England and Wales between June 1 and 18. There is always a chance of Kolkatans making a beeline to UK during that time of the year.

Sajan Kumar Gupta, who is the eastern chapter chairman of Outbound Tour Operations of India (OTOAI), said "Travel of students and techies to the US might be affected. Those who really want to visit the US will opt for flights that take a route which avoids Abu Dhabi." On cancellations of UK trips, Gupta said, "If people cancel their summer trips to UK citing the terror attack as a reason, I'd say that they want to avoid the UK for other reasons. The terror attack will come across to me as just an excuse for them to cancel a vacation during summers to England."

As for the new summer destinations, Punjabi said that he is now seeing a lot of takers for Sri Lanka, Burma and China apart from the evergreen destinations like Bangkok, Singapore and Malaysia. "Direct flights are available to Sri Lanka. I see the demand to visit Sri Lanka picking up. Many want to explore Burma. Even China has takers. Some are also wanting to opt for Australia and New Zealand since it will be cold there when we have summers here," Punjabi said.

Gupta is predicting a rise in Kolkata tourists to Croatia and Japan during the summers. "Croatia is emerging as another favourite. Some even want to try out Japan. However, I wouldn't advice travellers to opt for Sri Lanka during the summers because of the weather conditions there," Gupta said._________________Sabya99

March 29: Calcuttans flying to the US by Etihad Airways can carry laptops, tablets and other devices till the boarding gate in Abu Dhabi.
The airline has also announced that passengers in the first and business class will get iPads and enjoy Wi-fi connectivity on board the flight from Abu Dhabi. The services will be provided from April 2, the Gulf carrier has told tour operators.
The Donald Trump administration has banned carrying electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and e-book readers bigger than smart phones in cabin baggage on US-bound flights from several countries, including the UAE and Qatar.
Etihad sources said economy, business and first-class passengers were allowed to use electronic devices such as laptops and tablets till the boarding gate in Abu Dhabi, where they will have to be handed over to the airline staff for being carried as part of the registered luggage.
The passengers can retrieve their devices on reaching their destination in the US.
Earlier, the Emirates airline had announced that its passengers would be allowed to use laptops and other devices till they board their flights to the US.
Emirates customers travelling to the US via Dubai can carry the devices in their hand luggage on the first leg of the journey and also during transit in Dubai. After that the devices will have to be carried as part of registered luggage.
Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways together account for 600 seats daily out of Calcutta.
Between 25 and 30 per cent passengers are for the US and a similar number fly to Europe.
As for Wi-fi connectivity and iPads for first and business class passengers, a communication from Etihad to travel agents says: "To help your customers keep in touch with work, friends and family, we are offering first and business class guests free Wi-fi and iPads on all our US-bound flights from Abu Dhabi."
"Wi-fi vouchers will be provided by our cabin crew with the onboard welcome drink, providing free Wi-fi for the duration of the flight. In addition, we'll have iPads available for those that need them. Power and USB sockets at every seat will help keep devices charged."_________________Sabya99

KOLKATA: A trip to Kashmir is all set to get convenient from this Poila Boishakh as the city is going to have its first direct and daily flight to the picturesque state in north India.

IndiGo is going to start the service with a 180-seater airbus that is scheduled to leave Kolkata at 5.40am every day to reach Jammu at 8.55am. The flight will then travel further, till Srinagar, after a 20-minute halt at Jammu.

Speaking to TOI, Ajay S Jasra, the head of corporate communications for the airline, said they had been exploring the possibilities along some of the routes for quite some time before finalising the Kolkata-Kashmirservice.

"We had found that there were several passengers from Bengal heading Kashmir in almost every season. While most of them head to Vaishno Devi, many tourists opt for places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg. Hence, we decided to start the service," said Jasra, who was in the city on Tuesday.

According to Jasra, the response so far has been overwhelming as more than 50% of the seats for the first journey is already booked (the booking opened on March 15). The flight will take off from Srinagar at 10.25am and fly non-stop to reach Travel industry sources in Kolkata said about 60,000 tourists, many in large groups, visit Kashmir during the March-May and the Puja month.

"It's a great move . There are several elderly fliers every year who have a hard time reaching Kashmir. But this new direct is going to make the journey convenient," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents Federation of India.

April 6: A "technical" decision to reduce the proposed height of a new air traffic control tower at Calcutta airport by almost half is being reviewed after the state government wrote to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), seeking feedback on doubts raised by field crew.
The government's intervention is in response to a representation to chief minister Mamata Banerjee by the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild, which wants the height of the tower to be restored to the originally proposed 112 metres. The tender for the contract mentions a height of 57 metres.
"The airport has two runways and three of the four ends have an instrument landing system; so it won't be much of a problem to have a taller tower. The airport building is expanding too and the parking bays are moving further away. Taller the tower, better the visibility," said Kailash Pati Mandal, secretary of the ATC Guild's regional unit.
The guild had appended a technical study to its representation, explaining why a tower of the originally specified height was a better option.
An ATC tower is used to monitor and guide flights and the height of the structure enables a clear view of aircraft landing, taking off or taxiing. Several ATC personnel whom Metro spoke to said a 360-degree view of moving aircraft from a reasonable height was crucial to averting collisions in the technical area and also during take-off and landing.
Sanjay Jain, regional executive director (eastern region) of the AAI, said the "technical reasons" behind reducing the proposed height of the tower were being reconsidered. "Discussions are on at the Delhi headquarters. We are waiting for the decision. Although the tender has been floated, it is still possible to change the plan," he said.
Another AAI official said that if the tower were to 112 metres in height, it could obstruct a key navigational aid because of its proximity to the runways. The VHF Omnidirection Range navigational aid helps in knowing the position of an aircraft as well as during a "non-precision approach" for landing. The transmitter on the ground informs the ATC tower about the angle and distance of the aircraft from the airport, helping it guide the pilots in the absence of an instrument landing system.
The opposing view is that at 57 metres, the tower would not provide an unobstructed picture of the entire technical area and the parking bays that have shifted further away since the integrated terminal was built.
The AAI had first invited contract bids to build a new tower in 2008, fixing the height at 86 metres. This was taller than Mumbai airport's 83.8-metre tower but shorter than Delhi's 102-metre structure.
The tender was cancelled and there was a lull until 2016, when the AAI revised the proposed tower's height to 112 metres. The reduction in height to 57 metres is mentioned in the last tender floated this January.
On March 22, transport commissioner R. Maity wrote to Jain, forwarding the copy of the ATC Guild's representation. "I am directed to request you to send this department a feedback on the issue raised by the organisation (ATC Guild) at an early date for subsequent transmission of the same to the chief minister's office for information," states the letter.
Comment: Another sign of incompetent AAI administration. As if they don't know the importance of Kolkata ATC complex.Go ask IAF people._________________Sabya99

KOLKATA: Airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra will be a lot busier this summer than earlier as the regulator, DGCA, gave the nod for a bevy of flights to Bengal's twin airports. Kolkata will add at least 11 more flights by May and Bagdogra six.

Though airlines have been granted many more slots till September, they are subject to availability of aircraft. All Indian carriers are set to augment their fleet as Airbus Industrie and Boeing Co delivers the orders placed with it and some carriers, such as Air India, take more planes on lease. Air Asia India will be the new addition to the airlines that will start services between Kolkata and Delhi and Ranchi from Poila Baisakh, the Bengali new year on April 15. Its Bagdogra flights will start later.

"We are prepared for the additional flights and augmenting the facilities at the airport. In-line baggage will be operational by July-August. Retail, which has begun, will be fully operational in two months, so will the new food court next to Biswa Bangla and the more spacious duty-free facility," said Kolkata airport director Atul Dikshit.

IndiGo, the largest airline operating out of Kolkata with 78 departures a day, will add six daily flights, including one to Srinagar from April 15. This will take its departure count to 84, with more lined up. Jet Airways will add at least two more flights— to Mumbai and Lucknow—taking its departures to 29. The carrier is also set to replace its ageing ATR-72 fleet with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. SpiceJet will start a service to Dhaka and to Silchar, taking the departure number to 24. Vistara will add a new flight to Pune, logging seven departures, while Air India, which has 23 departures, will add two flights to Bengaluru and Ranchi.

The Bagdogra airport, already bursting at the seams, has to content with four more flights, including three to Delhi and one to Mumbai. While Jet Airways has introduced the Mumbai service, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir will get one more frequency to Delhi each. This will take the daily Delhi-Bagdogra services to 13. "The hills, forests and tea estates in Darjeeling, Sikkim and the Dooars are drawing Western tourists in big numbers. Every airline is keen to operate more Bagdogra-Delhi flights," said Badgogra airport director Rakesh Sahay. With the terminal operating beyond its capacity, tackling flyers will be tough. AAI has urged airlines to operate before noon or after 4pm._________________Sabya99

Comments:
- the developments at CCU sound very positive. In-line scanning by this summer, retail, food court and duty free.
- `replace the ageing ATR fleet with B738': ha ha! typical Times of India reporting
- The IAF showing open-mindedness on Bagdogra is an excellent move, and will add to the demand and the connectivity. The infra needs to be upgraded quickly. It is not that it cannot be done. I am back from a quick PAT trip: that Vedic era terminal has been given quite a facelift.
Cheers, Sumantra.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39640473
Emirates will reduce flights to five US cities from next month, after new security rules targeted travellers from the Middle East.
The Dubai-based airline said the change was due to weaker demand for US travel.
In March, the US banned electronic devices larger than a mobile phone from cabin luggage on flights from 10 airports.
This included Dubai, as well as from other airports in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
The UK imposed similar rules to the US.
Mr Trump has also signed two executive orders to bar refugees and nationals of several Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa from travelling to the US. Those bans have been contested in court.
Emirates' president Tim Clark told reporters last month that demand to the US had fallen by about a third since Mr Trump's announcements.
The airline has also introduced new services to cope with the laptop ban, offering tablets on loan and services to check the electronics in at the gate.
Emirates said it will reduce direct flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to five a week in May from the current daily flights.
The airline will also cut back its twice-daily flights to Seattle, Boston and Los Angeles to once a day in June.
Fast-growing Emirates made its first flight to North America in 2004. It now serves 12 US destinations, launching its most recent route, between Athens and Newark, just last month.
Comment; Effect of H-ib visa restriction?_________________Sabya99

NEW DELHI: Hollywood could just be 16 hours away from Delhi. Air India is planning a nonstop on Delhi-Los Angeles route from September. The move comes after the huge success of its San Francisco nonstop with people lapping up this direct service to California. The airline is also planning to start flights to Africa after a gap of several years.

AI chairman Ashwani Lohani said in a Facebook post on Tuesday: "To Washingtonfrom 7th July; Stockholm from 15th August and Los Angeles from 1st September to be followed by Tel Aviv, Dallas and Nairobi sometime later during the year 2017 itself. Air India spreads its wings far and wide."

Apart from Washington, the other dates are tentative from when AI plans to start these flights. A senior airline official said: "There is huge demand for travel between India and the West Coast of US. We are looking at thrice a week nonstop between Delhi and Los Angeles to begin with. The plan for Stockholm is of a similar frequency and nonstop Washington service will also start as three times a week. Our nonstop product is being increasingly chosen by flyers as they want to travel direct (between India and US) and not one or two stops."

Comment: This is fine for me as long as they keep toilets clean. Also they should encourage toilet trained passengers in their flights. 16 hrs of nonstop flight is too much!_________________Sabya99

Sikkim’s upcoming airport raises hopes among people of breaking barriers

Built at a cost of 300 crores, the airport at an altitude of 4,700 feet will be among the five highest airports in the country.
Emila Shenga had set out from her home state Sikkim to take the civil service examination in New Delhi, but she never made it. A landslide on the only road that connects her mountainous state to the Bagdogra airport in neighbouring West Bengal put paid to her IAS aspirations.
“I was a hostage to Sikkim’s landlocked geography,” recounted a distraught Shenga. Thousands of others have silently suffered similarly with Sikkim’s connectivity to the rest of the country dependant only on a single road passing through West Bengal.
But for the first time ever since Sikkim joined the Indian Union as its 22nd state in 1974, an high-altitude airport that is set to go operational by the year-end has raised hopes among its 6,00,000 residents of breaking free of the state’s physical barriers.
A Greenfield airport at Pakyong, about 35km from the state capital Gangtok, promises to provide direct connectivity to the tiny Himayalan state.
“The work for the airport has been completed and it will be inaugurated by the year end,” said a senior official of the Airport Authority of India.
Built at a cost of 300 crores, the airport at an altitude of 4,700 feet will be among the five highest airports in the country. True to its altitude, the airport has already let hopes of the people to soar.
“Once the Pakyong airport is inaugurated, it will ensure that Sikkim people do not have to travel 124 km via the choked National Highway 10 to catch a flight. Direct air connectivity will further boost tourism - the mainstay of the state’s revenue,” Sikkim’s long-time chief minister Pawan Chamling told HT.
Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sikkim-s-upcoming-airport-raises-hopes-among-people-of-breaking-barriers/story-08LOW4wSb9mWWaoXHR19ZN.htmlComment: I hope this new airport can handle ATR 72-600. Then there will be a traffic jam at the top of the world!_________________Sabya99

Comment: I hope this new airport can handle ATR 72-600. Then there will be a traffic jam at the top of the world!

That is the idea, Sir. Do you think there is any other option right now? Practically, I mean? AI will possibly fly there under the UDAN scheme, or the route may be given to someone else with AT7-6s (Indigo?), or SpiceJet (Q4s). The other operators identified under the RCS do not seem to have any serious long-time operational credentials.
Cheers, Sumantra.

Surge in air travel in the past couple of years and a large number of additions in early-morning and late-night flights has led to demand for night parking. Of the 51 bays at Kolkata airport, 33 are occupied at night. The rest are kept operational for flights that arrive and take off at night, for exigencies, and VIP movement.
Till now, officials at Kolkata airport have not had to handle the pressure of a sudden spike in flights due to the absence of big-ticket events in the city. Even during the Bengal Global Business Summit in January and Kolkata's matches in the Indian Premier League in April-May, there is no additional demand for parking bays.The World Cup is expected to change that. Featuring players who will be future football stars, the matches are expected to draw audiences from far and wide. Apart from planes that fly in the teams, fans are expected to arrive in chartered planes. In addition, celebrities and businessmen are sure to zip down to the city for the final. Mukesh and Nita Ambani are expected to arrive in their Airbus A319 aircraft. "Kolkata airport will try to accommodate small planes. But for narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A 320 and Boeing B 737 and bigger aircraft, night parking will be a challenge. We are in the process of launching a project on expanding the parking bay capacity. But it will take at least a year for a part of the facility to be ready," said Dikshit.
The Rs 80-crore project involves setting up of 23 parking bays to the east of the runway along Narayanpur. That will take the parking bay count to 74. Soil testing is expected to start soon and tenders will be floated in a couple of months. Apart from the bays, the project also includes vehicle lane, safety lane, push back zone and taxi track._________________Sabya99

Calcutta, May 30: Vistara will stop its flights on the Bangalore-Calcutta-Guwahati route from June 16, reflecting the drought of business class traffic between the eastern cities and one of the most popular destinations in the country.
The airline, owned by the Tatas and Singapore Airlines, has reposed faith in Calcutta as a "destination of strategic importance" but analysts pointed out that the discontinuation was another telling sign of the paucity of corporate traffic from and to Calcutta.
The lack of demand for premium seats has been the reason several international airlines had dropped Calcutta from their radar.
Low-cost airlines have found the going smoother in the city, operating all-economy class flights and depending largely on students and patients on their way to educational institutions and healthcare facilities in the south. The nature of the traffic is also a telling comment on some of the problems Bengal has been struggling with for decades.
Techies do travel in and out of the city but such traffic is usually confined to weekends and the holiday seasons.
Vistara, which had started operations from Calcutta a year ago in June 2016 and the Bangalore services later last year, operates two flights on the Bangalore-Calcutta-Guwahati route daily.
The airline was gracious in its statement: "Due to commercial reasons and as part of continual network optimisation, Vistara will discontinue its operations on the Bangalore-Calcutta-Guwahati route, effective June 16, 2017. Flights to Delhi, Port Blair and newly introduced Pune, will continue with no changes, and additional flights and frequencies are expected to be added to Calcutta as the airline grows its fleet. Calcutta remains a destination of strategic importance to Vistara."
Aviation industry sources said that for airlines operating flights from Calcutta, Bangalore is one of the most popular sectors after Delhi and Mumbai.

Calcutta airport officials said 16 daily flights operate between the city and Bangalore. Some felt supply outstrips demand. If so, consider Delhi and Mumbai, from where at least 61 and 47 flights, respectively, serve the Bangalore route daily.
But corporate traffic is the lifeblood for the aviation industry and business-starved Bengal has not too many such fliers.
Officials of several airlines said barely 10 per cent of the business class seats in the full-service airlines are filled daily on average. This means loss of maximum revenue for an airline.
A business class seat costs between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 for a one-way trip to Bangalore. Average one-way economy class fare rules between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000. "The revenue from one business class seat is equivalent to that of six to seven economy seats," pointed out an official of a full service airline.
"From Calcutta, mostly students and those going for treatment are the regular fliers to Bangalore. We see corporate traffic movement only in the weekends and holiday seasons when they fly home and again return to work," said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, Travel Agents Federation of India. "Also, the number of flights now outstrips demand," he said.
Low yield was the reason British Airways had pulled out from the city in 2009. German airline Lufthansa, which was Calcutta's last direct connection to Europe, also withdrew its Frankfurt flight in 2010.
Comment: Why Tata had to go to Kolkata in the first place.I think low cost airliners are doing a far better job. Let them fly now!_________________Sabya99

Kolkata airport is all set to increase its passenger capacity by 100% to handle up to 40 million passengers annually within the next four years.
At a function organized by Airports Authority of India at Nazrul Mancha on Tuesday afternoon, Kolkata airport director Atul Dixit said: “We have started the next phase of our expansion plan as the airport is on the verge of reaching its capacity of 20 million passengers annually . In the next four years, we are going to expand it to hold 40 million passengers yearly .“ When the new terminal was inaugurated in 2013, the airport had an annual pas senger traffic of just above 9 million while it was designed to handle 20 million passengers. However, in the last four years, the annual passenger count has increased to 16 million, a growth of 77.8%. “As per the growth trend, in another year, the terminal will get cramped for space in the absence of an expansion plan and so we had to act real quick to tackle the situation,“ Dixit told TOI.
Airport officials said as per the first phase of the expansion plan, the authorities are going to link the old terminal of the airport with the new one by walkalators and aerobridges.
“We will connect the corridor of the old terminal with the new one with the help of three aerobridges and walkalators and would also have walk-in gates on the ground floor. We will use this building for boarding and de-boarding of passengers. Passengers getting down in the old terminal would take the connecting bridge to take the new terminal and then leave the airport,“ said the official. This would help reduce pe ak-hour congestion when several flights do not get enough apron space. “This plan is ready and hopefully by the end of this financial year, this process will be completed. This would immediately increase the passenger capacity by a few million and would solve the spa ce crunch for the time being,“ said an airport official.
The official added that a master plan has already been made for the construction of a third terminal that can finally take up the airport passenger capacity to 40 million. The plan has received the first nod from the aviation ministry .
“The new third terminal will come up at the north of the current integrated terminal.The Air Traffic Navigation Building or ATC and the old international terminal that are situated beyond the old domestic terminal will be demolished to make way for the new terminal building,“ said an official.
He added that the new terminal is expected to house only domestic flights while a larger portion of the existing integrated terminal will be allotted to international flights.
At the programme titled “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sammelan“, also had Radha Mohan Singh, the union minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, former union minister for civil aviation and current BJP spokesperson as the primary speakers.
Dixit also added at the programme that the ministry of civil aviation will introduce special low fare tickets for short journeys to open air travel to all and sundry . He also mentioned that the Kolkata airport is soon going to have new hangars and bays as part of the expansion plan.

Comment: The area occupied by old terminal should have been demolished long ago as it is unused most of the time. The northern/ eastern part of the airfield should also be developed as of now it is barren wooded area only._________________Sabya99

Expat plea to Mamata for direct flights
Devadeep Purohit in The Hague, Netherlands
June 22: Expatriates from Bengal in the Netherlands today requested visiting chief minister Mamata Banerjee to "do something" for direct air connectivity between Calcutta and Europe, the community's voice capturing the desire to see more business activity in their home state.
After an hour-long session resembling the quintessential Bengali adda - complete with songs, recitation and short speeches thrown in - members of Hoichoi posed with Mamata for a group photograph as a keepsake.
"Didi, please kichhu korun... Europe-er sathe kono direct flight nei Kolkata-r (Didi, please do something. There is no direct flight between Calcutta and Europe)," someone said even as cameras went click-click.
Soon, others in the motley group - 25-odd men and women of various ages - chorused the request for direct flights to Europe. They went on to describe how lack of direct air connectivity between Calcutta and Europe was inconveniencing them. (more )
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170623/jsp/calcutta/story_158281.jsp

Comment: Middle eastern airlines are God’s gift to Kolkata. For the time being use it/enjoy it. You have no choice. Didi could do nothing!_________________Sabya99

Europe from Calcutta: Jet set, no-go
Sanjay Mandal
June 23: Jet Airways has announced plans to connect three metros directly to Europe but Calcutta has missed the flight once again.
Expatriates from Bengal in the Netherlands had on Thursday requested chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is visiting the country, to push for direct air connectivity between Europe and their home state.
But several officials of the aviation industry told Metro today that little had changed in terms of Bengal's economic potential for airlines to consider starting direct flights between Calcutta and Europe.
Down south, Chennai's ascendancy has prompted Jet Airways to launch a direct flight to Paris from there and one to Amsterdam from Bangalore. The inaugural flights on these routes are scheduled for October 29.
The twin flights are in addition to Jet Airways' direct service to Amsterdam from Delhi and Mumbai. The airline also has a direct flight between Mumbai and Paris.
A Jet Airways official said the airline was looking at another daily flight between Mumbai and London from the same month. Calcutta is not even on the radar.
"As of now, there are no plans to start direct flights to Europe from Calcutta. We have flights to Europe from other cities and Calcutta is connected to these cities by a network of our domestic flights," the official said.
Air India, which had been planning to reintroduce a direct flight from Calcutta to London, has postponed the plan now. "This is not a possibility at this point," said a spokesperson for the airline.
Sources in the aviation sector said Calcutta's viability hadn't improved in terms of passenger load, making airlines wary of flying to Europe direct from the city.
"In the last few meetings with various airlines, it has emerged that they are happy with what the new terminal offers by way of infrastructure. But they want us to guarantee a steady flow of corporate travellers, which we cannot," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India.
Calcutta has recorded an increase in the number of passengers flying to Europe, but they are mostly tourists, students and people visiting friends and relatives. Corporate travel is what an airline needs to be viable on a route.
At The Hague on Thursday, an expatriate's plea to Mamata had quickly become a chorus: "Didi, please kichhu korun... Europe-er sathe kono direct flight nei Kolkata-r (Didi, please do something. There is no direct flight between Calcutta and Europe),"
Mamata replied: "I understand your problems.... Why don't you give a representation to Jet?"
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170624/jsp/calcutta/story_158482.jsp_________________Sabya99

The area occupied by old terminal should have been demolished long ago as it is unused most of the time. The northern/ eastern part of the airfield should also be developed as of now it is barren wooded area only.

Sir, I do read your forwards, posts and your comments. The plan of using the old T1-D is a fair one, and the article states what is similar to what is being done at MAA right now. The ultimate plan of T3 coming up in place of T1-International is also well-placed. My guess as to why the North is not in any future plan is possibly because of the arrival path. The East: possible, but I guess they want to develop the Western side well right now.
Cheers, Sumantra.

New Delhi, June 25: The civil aviation ministry will prefer to sell off Air India's subsidiaries to partially clear the national carrier's huge debts rather than go in for an immediate privatisation.
The ministry has objected to Niti Aayog's proposal to sell off Air India as there will be no takers given the huge debt of Rs 52,000 crore.
All the options to restructure Air India's debt for a turnaround, including the Niti's Aayog's suggestion on privatisation, are expected to be taken up by the cabinet this month.
According to the civil aviation ministry, hiving off some of Air India's subsidiaries such as the engineering and ground handling units could raise cash; this and the restructuring of debt could nurse the airline back to health.
"Trying to sell something which has few takers is bad strategy... and spending money to sell something is even worse," said top civil aviation ministry officials.
At the preliminary inter-ministerial meetings, the ministry has questioned the proposal to write off debts or restructure them just to make the carrier attractive to a private buyer.
If such a step is indeed taken, the government can itself run the airline as Air India has started making profits, instead of bringing in a private party. Air India had made an operating profit of Rs 105 crore in the last fiscal.
"We are saying that if the cost of privatisation is the government having to write off debt, then is it worth it?" officials said.
Till now, the finance ministry has staved off any loan write-off plans, while the lenders are not too keen to restructure without seeing some money on the table.
Officials consequently feel selling off subsidiaries could be a better way to earncash that could be brought to the table while negotiating a debt recast with lenders.
Some of Air India's subsidiaries are ground handling arm Air India Air Transport Services, Hotel Corporation of India (which owns Centaur at Delhi and Lake View in Srinagar), the charter business as well as engineering arm Air India Engineering Services.
Officials feel the sale of the subsidiaries or even the sale of strategic stakes in them could fetch between Rs 20,000 crore and Rs 25,000 crore.
Ministry officials point out in the past there had been considerable interest from several quarters, including Singapore and the Gulf, for joint ventures with Air India in both ground handling and engineering.
The subsidiary which does ground handling for several foreign airlines besides Air India and the engineering outfit which also services other airlines' aircraft were hived off into separate but wholly owned companies in 2012 when the cabinet took a decision to inject money into the national carrier over the next eight years.
The finance ministry, which has been pumping small doses of money every year into Air India, is reluctant to spend more. The airline had landed up in this situation because of the loans it had taken to add some 111 aircraft to its ageing and depleted fleet.
At that time, the ministry had encouraged it to order more aircraft than it said it required, arguing traffic will grow at faster rate than the projections.
AI officials say "injection of money in driblets has not helped. In 2012 itself we had sought a one shot help. That never came" .
Most civil aviation experts feel the airline's financial situation has touched a low on account of a botched up merger between a profitable Indian Airlines and a sick international arm - Air India.They also blame an unexplained policy of shutting down existing profitable routes as well as the award of a large number of bilateral flying rights to the Gulf states, which ensured that Indian travellers on the lucrative European and US routes flew via these regions than take direct flights.

Comment: This white elephant must be dismantled. Who is going to absorb that kind of standing loan.May be future Air India will be a downsized company covering India-US/Europe/Japan/Australia only.Its domestic business should go to IndiGo et al._________________Sabya99

June 29: AirAsia is betting big on Calcutta even as competing airlines remain cynical about the city in terms of business travel boosting their bottom lines.
Starting August 1, AirAsia will fly to Delhi, Jaipur, Bagdogra and Bhubaneswar from the city. The Bhubaneswar flight will proceed to Bangalore, sources said.
Tickets for all these flights would go on sale next Monday.
Later in the year, possibly September or October, the airline hopes to start flights to Goa and Guwahati from the city.
Vistara recently decided to pull out its Calcutta-Bangalore flight citing lower than expected business travel, ostensibly the lifeblood of full-service airlines.
Industry sources said AirAsia’s hopping flight to Bangalore was unlikely to face viability issues because it would be all-economy. There is another advantage: this flight would carry Bangalore-bound passengers both from Calcutta and Bhubaneswar.
AirAsia’s Delhi flight is scheduled to take off from Calcutta at 11.20pm daily and reach its destination at 1.40am. On the return route, the flight would take off at 4.55am and land in Calcutta at 7.15am.
“The timing of the Delhi flight should be convenient for those having international connections from Delhi. Their waiting time would be minimum,” said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents’ Federation of India. “These flights would hopefully also bring down fares.”
Since Calcutta does not have direct air connectivity with Europe or the US, passengers who do not take one of the Gulf carriers usually opt for a flight out of Delhi. The current average one-way fare to Delhi from the city is between Rs 5,000 and 7,000.
AirAsia had started its domestic operations in Calcutta this March with two flights to Delhi via Ranchi. “The new routes have been planned to ensure optimum utilisation of aircraft,” said an official.
As for international flights, Bali would be the third destination for the airline from the city after Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
Comment: All economy flights from CCU will not have any viability issue, but flights with Vistara model may not succeed!_________________Sabya99

For IndiGo, the main attraction is Air India’s leadership in overseas passenger traffic with 17% of the international skies in its portfolio.
IndiGo, India’s biggest airline by market share, has formally expressed an interest in buying the troubled national carrier Air India which is about to be put on sale by the government, probably beating the Tata Group to making a formal approach with the authorities. But here’s the catch. IndiGo wants to preferably buy only the international operations of Air India and its low-cost airline Air India Express. Given IndiGo’s leadership in the domestic market with a hard-to-beat 41% share and its aggressive plans to expand overseas, it makes sense.
Air India is a distant third largest player in the Indian civil aviation market with a small 14% share. While that revenue would be a welcome addition to IndiGo’s kitty, it is Air India’s leadership in overseas passenger traffic with 17% of the international skies in its portfolio which is the main attraction for IndiGo, which itself has major ambition to quickly start adding international destinations to its network.
Expansion plan
IndiGo’s outstanding order for aeroplanes — the largest for any airline in the world — is a testament to this ambition. The airline has 458 aircraft on order, scheduled for delivery over the next decade, to add to its existing 135 aircraft, which is also the largest fleet for any airline in India.
The airline, operated by Interglobe Aviation, has made no secret about its plans to fly to more and more cities overseas, but so far is in nascent stages and is a small player with a paltry 3% market share. It flies to seven destinations overseas in six countries, all in Asia — three in the Middle East, two in southeast Asia, and one in south central Asia. Further, its expansion overseas is contingent upon the staggered delivery of the aircraft over the next 10 years.
Air India well placed
On the other hand, Air India, as mentioned above, is the market leader with 17% share, and flies to 41 destinations (including four on which the service is yet to begin) in 28 countries across four continents. Air India’s international presence, its huge fleet of 118 aircraft, including 43 wide-body planes — ideal for high capacity long-haul flights, and the accompanying fleet of experienced pilots and trained staff, is sure to airdrop any buyer into a prime slot in the overseas air travel business with lot of scope for expansion.
With the number of years of operations behind it, the size of the fleet of aircraft, and with its market position both at home and abroad, Air India floats comfortably above many regulatory requirements for expansion. Air India’s permits for flying routes within India and overseas, its parking slots at major airports around the world such as New York and London, its primetime departure slots at big airports, and some prime real estate across the country could offer a mouth-watering proposition to an ambitious buyer.
Fleet type
That leaves one contentious issue, or rather, an operational detail. IndiGo prides itself on maintaining a single aircraft type fleet ever since its inception, which it claims has helped it keep the costs under control. Air India’s mix of eight types of aircraft may be an important exception to its strategy. Although, looking at recent developments, IndiGo might be willing to take on that challenge in lieu of a giant leap in its growth.
Earlier last year, IndiGo modified its outstanding order to replace 20 aircraft from existing A320Neo to the larger A321Neo. Further, unconfirmed news reports have suggested that the airline may opt for larger single aisle aircraft going further for long haul flights. Not to forget, IndiGo very recently, in May, placed a surprise order for 50 ATR-72s for a proposed regional aviation venture. Air India’s existing eight ATRs sit well within that goal.
With this, it might be safe to say that IndiGo may have already ditched its single type aircraft fleet strategy to adapt to the realities of changing market requirements. Air India’s mix of aircraft for different flight requirements may even come in handy for IndiGo. What it must worry about, though, is the huge debt pile of Air India, which is the reason for the sale in the first place.
Debt issue
Air India, under intense competition from leaner, more efficient and often-cheaper private airlines, is reeling under a debt of over Rs 52,000 crore, with about Rs 28,000 crore in working capital debt, and about Rs 4,000 crore in interest burden alone. It has not turned profit in 10 years, since at least the year 2007. Air India has guzzled up taxpayer money over and over again but to no effect. The carrier has received bailout packages worth about Rs 24,000 crore out of a total Rs 30,000 crore approved, but has failed to revive its fortunes amid private airlines continuously gaining market share.
Are you serious?
Although, the government has repeatedly indicated that it would be willing to take a haircut on the outstanding debt to make the deal lucrative for a potential buyer. With what’s on offer and with IndiGo’s prompt action in throwing its ring into the hat — it reportedly sent a letter to the civil aviation ministry within hours of the Cabinet approval for Air India’s disinvestment yesterday — it seems that IndiGo is not willing to let go of a decent opportunity without a fight. If the Tata Group is indeed interested in buying back the iconic airline which it originally founded in 1932, it might find that it has some serious competition.
Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/air-india-privatisation-indigo-interested-overseas-expansion-goal-tata/741804/

Comment: If Indigo can operate Air India international arm and could run it without political interference then it will be single most important event in civil aviation since JRD Tata’s solo flight in 1932_________________Sabya99

July 12: Party on a cruise liner, food trails and an insight into history - foreign tours pack in all this and more, that too at pocket-friendly prices.
The Travel and Tourism Fair at Netaji Indoor Stadium saw two new entrants - Macau and Sri Lanka - and both destinations seemed to have caught the fancy of visitors on the lookout for an offbeat holiday this Puja.
A group friends, in their 40s, were seen making enquiries about Macau. "We travel with our families right after Puja every year. This time we are looking at a foreign destination near home. Packages abroad are priced better and offer interesting activities," said Suman Chatterjee of Dhakuria, a businessman in his 40s. A five-day package tour of Macau comes at a little over Rs 60,000.
Sri Lankan Airlines recently introduced direct flights from the city thrice a week to cater to the rising interest in this region. "A few days ago, a group of 130 from Calcutta booked a Ramayan tour," said a tour operator.
From wedding and honeymoon tourists to those on a pilgrimage trail, Sri Lanka has seen over 6,000 visitors from the east last year. A basic Sri Lankan holiday can cost around Rs 35,000 per person, said a representative of Sri Lankan Tourism.
Many senior citizens want to sample an international trip near home before planning a bigger one. "We are looking at either Bangladesh or Sri Lanka," said Alok Ranjan Chakraborty, 65, of Teghoria.
Thailand remains a favourite, especially among first-time foreign travellers. New destinations include Koh Larn, Rayong "I want to see the beaches in Phuket and Krabi. I have heard so much about them. And it will cost me less than a exotic holiday in India," said Suparna Dey of Behala.

July 16: An extended boarding area with more aerobridges, 23 additional parking bays, a new surface for the secondary runway and India's highest-category instrument landing system - Calcutta airport is in the middle of a Rs 1,000-crore upgrade within four years of operations shifting to the integrated terminal.
The upgrade was partly necessitated by a 26 per cent growth in passenger volume in one year: from 12.8 million in 2015-16 to 15.8 million in 2016-17. Metro lists the main additions and changes that promise to make the city airport the efficient facility it aspires to be.
Airside corridor extension
Project cost: Rs 75 crore
Target: July 2018
A 400-metre, air-conditioned glass corridor will lead passengers from the integrated terminal to the building that housed the old domestic terminal. This is where a new boarding area with aerobridges is coming up. A portion of the building's first floor is being renovated to accommodate about 300 passengers.
"This section will have three aerobridges. Passengers of flights assigned to the extended boarding area will go through security check in the integrated terminal and use the corridor to reach their boarding gates," airport director Atul Dixit said.
The corridor on the airside is meant to reduce congestion in the existing domestic area of the integrated terminal. Extra aerobridges are an immediate requirement. The 18 aerobridges currently in use are all connected to the integrated terminal, whose annual capacity is 20 million passengers.
Mumbai airport is being upgraded to handle 40 million passengers a year with 50 aerobridges. Delhi's Terminal 3 alone has 78 aerobridges.
The nine aerobridges in the domestic section are occupied for most of the day, often forcing airlines to park their flights in remote bays and transfer passengers by coach. The aerobridges linked to the international section remain unused for most of the day.
Northern extension of F taxi track (Phase I)
Project cost: Rs 50 crore
Target: December 2018
Taxiway F would be extended by 800 metres and linked to the southern end of the secondary runway. This is meant to optimise runway use and speed up take-off operations. In the present set-up, an aircraft has to enter the runway, backtrack for about 400 metres and then start the take-off run. This is a problem particularly for larger aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A-330.
Airport director Dixit said that after the extension of the taxiway, an aircraft can go straight to the tip of the runway and take off, saving two to three minutes for each flight.
CAT III-B lighting system Project cost: Rs 61.68 crore
Target: October 2017
CAT III-B is the second-most advanced instrument landing system available - no airport has CAT III-C yet - and enables an aircraft to land even when visibility drops to 50 metres. Low visibility due to fog is a winter problem in Calcutta that throws flight schedules haywire.
The CAT III-B system being installed on the main runway would replace CAT-II, whose visibility threshold is 350 metres. In winter and sometimes even during monsoon showers, visibility drops below that level. "An aircraft needs the stipulated equipment and pilots with special training in the cockpit to land in low-visibility conditions. Most airlines now have aircraft and pilots who are CAT III-B compliant," said Captain Sarvesh Gupta, chairman of the Airline Operators' Committee of Calcutta airport.
New ATC tower
Project cost: Rs 458 crore
Target: December 2019
A 57-metre tall air traffic control (ATC) tower is being built to give a better view of aircraft approaching, taxiing or taking off. The existing tower is 35 metres high and more than 50 years old. Besides providing a clearer view to air traffic personnel, a more spacious structure is required to house upgraded communication, navigation and surveillance equipment, officials said.
Since some portions of the airfield adjacent to the integrated terminal would still be beyond the field of view, cameras would be installed for complete coverage. "Most airport towers across the world are taller than 100 metres. The height of the one being built here has been reduced from what had been originally decided," said Kailas Pati Mondal, secretary of the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild (India), eastern region.
Secondary runway
Project cost: Rs 40 crore
Target: December 2018
Once strengthening of the main runway is completed by the end of this year, resurfacing of the secondary runway would be taken up. "Work will start this financial year. No major repair work of the secondary runway has been undertaken in more than 10 years," an airport official said.
Remote parking bay
Project cost: Rs 92 crore
Target: September 2018
Fifteen remote parking bays are being built on the eastern side of the terminal. "The increase in night parking facilities will allow more morning departures and late-night arrivals," the airport director said.
Three hangars with annexe
Project cost: Rs 104 crore
Target: June 2019
The existing hangars would be demolished to make space for more parking bays. The three new hangars are to be built in a separate location for maintenance and repair of aircraft.
Domestic cargo building
Project cost: Rs 50 crore
Target: December 2019
The old international terminal's arrival area is currently being used for domestic cargo handling, a makeshift facility that apparently inconveniences clients. The new building would have a storage facility along with proper cargo handling equipment for faster operations.

Comments: Its all long overdue good news. A few suggestions;
More aerobridges: There are derelict storage area and sheds in front of old domestic terminal. They must be demolished and three moe D class aerobridges could be easily installed here. Also international wing of integrated terminal could be extended towards VIP road making space for at least 6-7 aerobridges!! Think ahead babus!
Extension of F taxiway: This is long overdue; in fact when secondary runway was extended in 2007 this should have been done simultaneously. Extended F taxiway could also be linked with main runway over the 19R RESA. This will reduce load on Kilo taxiway.
Relocation of hangar complex : That space is suitable for future extension of integrated terminal 20-30 years from now. New hangars could be built near the cargo terminal parking area or north side of the airfield.
East side parking bays: This is a very useful and visionary addition of the airport. There are plenty of space available which could be used for even further expansion of parking area. But Main runway needs a parallel taxiway in the east. The earlier it is built the better it is._________________Sabya99

Dear Dr.Ganguly, some points here.
- First, this is an extremely well-written piece by an aviation journalist, who knows what he is talking about, and shows a good amount of study, and preparation
- Second, your comments are extremely pertinent and interesting, and for once, are based on some rather sound well-thought logic, rather than unbridled jingoistic passion for your erstwhile hometown. I appreciate all your four points.
- This does not look like a stop-gap or a sudden ad hoc measure. This also does not look like the work of a few babus. This looks like some good and careful study by a good aviation consulting firm, and my guess is that there must be more to it than this alone, as there is usually a master plan in such cases, for expansion to be done in phases. IGIA Delhi has a grand master plan, and the current wave of activity has been advanced in time owing to the need. The master plan may be a semi-public document in totality. For DEL, it is a very well thought-of move, which is being done in parts. There is a very good complete picture, in accordance with the projected growth, and needs. My guess is that there is one for NSCBIA as well, of which this is only a small snapshot of what is immediately needed as an upgrade.
- With regard to your point#1 More aerobridges:
my guess is that this is there as a part of the master plan. Both to utilise the area in front of the old T1-D, to its side, and where the old T1-International will be demolished. And for the International side as well.
Your other points are well-taken, and may perhaps be there in the master plan.
- I must admit that this part took me by surprise, albeit a pleasant one. CAT III-B is also a very pleasant surprise. DEL has CAT III-B for what affects the airport for an average of 15 days each year, for the capacity it handles. My guess is that the increasing numbers at CCU has perhaps necessitated this requirement. I have seen thick fog a CCU, and this will be a welcome move.
Cheers, Sumantra.

@Sumantra, thanks for your comment. I wish NSCBI airport will survive as desi ORD. I will be happy with that.No body would dare to marginalize this airport. I also think a change of perception about this airport in MCA high command. Perhaps the staunchly anti East lobby that used to rule in seventies to 2000, just gave up. _________________Sabya99

Kolkata: The construction of an air traffic control tower (ATC) and a technical block, that was designed for the Kolkata airport by a French architecture firm a decade ago, is finally set to begin after monsoon with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) issuing the work order to Rama Construction Pvt Ltd.

Controllers — who have been calling for a modern and spacious workplace — are, however, far from enthused as their hopes of an iconic, cloud-kisser have been dashed. Instead, a stunted tower, half the size they had yearned for, has been approved at a cost of Rs 458 crore. While the construction will be completed in three years, the tower will be functional by mid-2021.

The tower and technical block had been designed alongside the integrated terminal by international architect firm Aeroport de Paris SA in 2007-08. Initially, the construction of both projects were scheduled in succession, first the terminal and then the tower. But the latter was held up for four years as AAI debated the design and height. Initially proposed at 86m, controllers had lobbied for a 112m structure that would be AAI's showpiece. But the approved tower is 57.9m, way shorter than the ATC towers at Delhi (102m) and Mumbai (83.8m).

The controllers' guild in Kolkata had argued that a tall tower was necessary to sight planes parked along the international wing of the terminal. But AAI headquarters shot down the proposal, citing technical issues including obstruction of radar coverage. "At a time when modern technology like high density camera has made remote towers possible, the height of a tower is not critical," reasoned regional executive director (east) AN Sharma.

In the intervening years, vital navigational aids and surveillance technologies such as radars, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, VHF and terminals were upgraded at the four-decade-old air traffic services complex as Kolkata ATC systems were automated. However, space remains at a premium. That constraint will end once the new L-shaped technical block is ready as it will be over three times the size of the current facility where area controllers will be located. The challenge will be the deep pile foundation required to ensure the tower's stability on marshy soil. While soil testing at the site has been done, the design will be finalised after a test pile is carried out.

The location of the proposed tower and technical block is opposite gate number four near the old ceremonial lounge to the northwest of the old international terminal.

KOLKATA: Air fares from Bagdogra to Kolkata has hit the stratosphere with airlines making the most of a sudden spurt in demand due to the disruption in road and rail owing to floods in north Bengal. Between Friday and Sunday, the one-way fare has increased 17 times from Rs 1,200 to a whopping Rs 20,000. That is a new off-season record on the sector. The last time fares hit such a high was in the height of peak summer holidays before the Darjeeling agitation began on June 8.

Though the downpour in north Bengal ceased, fares continue to remain sky-high with Tuesday's tickets available for Rs 17,960 on Jet Airways; Rs 14,195 on SpiceJet; and Rs 11,920 on IndiGo. On Wednesday, a SpiceJet ticket is retailing at Rs 14,195 while GoAir is selling at Rs 12,918.

Bagdogra airport director Rakesh Sahay said the spike in passengers had initially been on Bagdogra-bound flights on Friday and Saturday with travellers keen on making most of the extended weekend with a trip to the Dooars and Sikkim.

"With Darjeeling out of bounds, the average passenger count has been 1,800-1,900. But it shot up on Saturday to 2,200. But with heavy rain inundating north Bengal, departures increased to 2,200 on Saturday; 2,781 on Sunday and 3,070 on Monday," he said.

The rise in demand growth has led to the fare surge. "We've never seen such high fares in August. With roads shut and trains cancelled, people have no option but to fly," said Siliguri-based tour operator Samrat Sanyal.

Travel Agents Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi felt the airlines needed to take a re-look at dynamic fares during natural calamities. "At Rs 18,000, one can do a round trip to Bangkok, Sri Lanka or Yangon or even travel one way to China, Singapore and Hong Kong," he pointed out
Comment: Airlines thank the rain God!!_________________Sabya99

NEW DELHI: In yet another snag with the Pratt and Whitney (PW) engines powering the Airbus A-320 new engine option (NEO), an IndiGo aircraft flying from Ahmedabad to Kolkata on Wednesday had to be diverted to Nagpur after the cockpit reportedly got an engine failure message. The IndiGo NEO (VT-ITK) landed safely in Nagpur.

An IndiGo spokesman said: "IndiGo flight 6E-135 (Ahmedabad-Kolkata) experienced technical snag in one of the two engines. Though the aircraft could have continued flying safely, the flight crew decided to carry out a precautionary landing at Nagpur to get the aircraft checked. The aircraft landed safely. A ferry flight was organised to complete the journey of stranded passengers at Nagpur. Safety of passengers and crew is of highest priority in IndiGo."

Sources say 6E-135's pilots got a message that engine number two had failed. The latest problem with the snag-ridden PW engines of A-320 NEO has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Earlier this month, the DGCA had taken up the issue of constant troubles with PW. IndiGo and GoAir have PW-powered NEOs in their fleets. The unending snags with the engines often keep a significant number of these planes grounded. The meeting was called after seven NEOs of IndiGo and two of GoAir were grounded due to a snag in the engine at the same time. Pratt informed the regulator that it has this particular snag "to some extent". Since the snags require replacement of engines, which PW is unable to supply on time, airlines like IndiGo and GoAir suffer prolonged grounding of planes.

Due to the rush for replacement engines for grounded planes, PW is also not able to give engines to Airbus on time for new A-320 NEOs. As a result, the delivery schedule for airlines that ordered the combo of PW-powered A-320 NEOs has gone haywire. Some airlines like Qatar Airways have even cancelled the order for the plane due to delayed deliveries.

With 430 A-320 Neo family planes on order, IndiGo is Airbus's biggest customer globally for this aircraft. GoAir has ordered 72 A-320 Neos with PW engines and is yet to decide the engine for an additional order of 72 Neos it confirmed last year.

This March, PW had asked the two LCCs to fly these planes at a lower altitude -- 30,000 feet instead of the higher levels of 36-37,000 feet. While the denser air of lower levels will mean putting less pressure on the engine, flying lower will also lead to an increased fuel consumption for airlines. Less fuel burn was supposed to be the USP of the A-320 Neo, Earlier this year, the DGCA had ordered immediate examination of PW on the A-320 Neos.

P&W's A-320 Neo engines have been plagued with issues like slow engine startup times and erroneous engine software messages in the new engine._________________Sabya99